Greetings from Sunshine

Wow, I can not believe how fast the summer is passing us by in Sunshine.  The Pot Luck dinner  on the 13th was a success.  We filled up the school house with many of our neighbors.  We even met some of the new neighbors that will be moving in next month.   It's always nice to see new faces.  The Homebrew Hoedown at the Spread Eagle Lodge went well.  All of the bands sounded great.  It was quite a mixture of music.  There was a wonderful jazz quartet, our band (geezer rock) and several blue grass groups.  Oh, oh... and the homebrew was very tasty.

Sunshine events this week include the Team Sunshine meeting, Thursday evening (7:30) at our house and the Sunshine Garden club, which will be meeting at Stephanie's house, Saturday, at 4:30.  A few of us are going to try to head up to Cheyenne for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.  If you have a hankering to see the old west, it's a great place for the whole family.  I was born and raised in Cheyenne, and I can tell you, it's quite an experience.

I was happy to see our mayor, Chris at the Homebrew Hoedown.  I usually see Chris 3 to 4 times during the week but his gray beard and smiling face has been missing for several weeks.  I knew he was home for all of his friends, (foxes, deer, birds, chipmunks and squirrels, not to mention a bear or two) have been hanging around his house.  Every now and then I would notice his front door open but did not see his friendly grin.  I pulled him aside and we chatted over a pint of honey mead.  Chris told me that he had not been feeling at all well.  He went to the doctor and has some tests done.  It was determined he had a food allergy.  I should have known better than to fall for this one.  I asked him what he was allergic to....his reply......wedding cake.  We had a good laugh over that one.

Remember, If you find yourself in a hole the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Smiles, David

 

Busy week ahead in Sunshine

Hiding in this picture are the three new bear cubs.  Look for their little brown noses.  Thank you Ruby for the pictures.

There are several up coming events in Sunshine.

Friday, July 13th at 6PM will be the community Pot Luck Supper.  It will be held at the old Sunshine School house.  Please bring your own table setting, drinks and a plate to share.

Saturday, July 14th, starting at 2PM will be the Spread Eagle Home Brew Hoe Down.  It will be held at the Spread Eagle lodge, 281 County Road 83 (John and Kat's house).  There will be a home brew tasting contest and four bands (Including Sunshine's own Star Route).  People are encouraged to bring camping gear and not to drink and drive.  Please be careful of the bears.

The new bear cubs mother.

Please have a safe and happy 4th of July.

Remember, It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.

David

Moab, Utah

Canyon Lands near Moab, UT

Milo was so excited as we started our walk this morning.  It has been 5 days since we took our morning walk together.  Milo was so excited he "bounced" down the driveway.  After we raised the flag and started toward the fork in the road, he told me he wanted to hear about the trip to Moab, Utah.  Moab is a special place for us.  It seems to have a connection to Boulder.  Moab is surrounded by things that we love to do.  There is rafting down the Colorado or Green rivers, cycling, hiking and camping.  It is also a great place to take some fantastic photos.  Moab is also the home of our friends, Bob and Bebe.  People from Boulder are always going to Moab, a short six hours to the west.

300 million years ago, much of what is now the great American west was under an inland ocean and was located near the equator.  Over time, the mountains pushed up and the plates shifted causing the ocean to dry.  These events caused the ocean floor tobe exposed, leaving the now visible sedimentary rock.  Wind and rain have eroded the rock giving us the beautiful views we have today.

We usually spend the summer solstice with Bob and Bebe's daughter, Terry and her husband, Dale at Hog Hollow in the northern Colorado Rockies.  This year, Hog Hollow is under major reconstruction so our Sunshine Canyon Summer Solstice YaYa Sisterhood Reunion took place in Moab.  We usually camp out so we were lucky we could participate in the Great American Backyard Campout at the same time.  The tempature was around 100 each day but it cooled off at night.  Sleeping under the stars was great.  We watched the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle fly over in the evening, and counted satellites as we watched the stars. We had about 18 people attend.

The drive west on Interstate 70 took us through the Eisenhower Tunnel, which is the continental divide and down past Dillon, Colorado, and continued to Vail.  We stopped in Glenwood Springs, Colorado for lunch and the drove on to Moab.  Each community is a vacation destination on it's own.

 

Lake Dillon

Be safe and remember, never kick a fresh cow chip on a hot day.

David

 

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SCSSYYSR 2007

 

Boulder Creek

I'm sitting here on this beautiful late spring evening listening to my son's radio program.  He is the DJ for a classical music show on the CU radio station (AM 1190), "Standard Notation".  It was a hot day in Sunshine.  The temperature reached 93 degrees today.  One really nice thing about living in the mountains is that no matter how hot it gets during the day, it cools off at night.  We had a very nice fathers day.  I feel very lucky that I have two wonderful sons and that our family is filled with so much love.  The Lord has certainly blessed us.

 

SCSSYYSR 2005

It's that time of year again when we celebrate the summer solstice.  A group of our neighbors gather for the weekend and celebrate our friendship.  We call it the Sunshine Canyon Summer Solstice YaYa Sisterhood Reunion (SCSSYYSR).   I made a post last year explaining our multi-family get together.  Unfortunately we did not get to participate.  My MIL, who was dying of cancer had a turn for the worse and we did not leave the house until she passed.  This year we are all gathering in Moab, Utah.  Moab is the home of Bob and Bebe.  They will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  It looks like there will be 17 or 18 of us.  I am really looking forward to a trip to Moab.  I promise some pictures.  Moab is a beautiful part of our country.  We will be camping out under the stars.  It should be fun.  We are participating with The Great American Backyard Camp out.

I hope you are all well.

Remember, never smack a man who's chewin' tobacco.

Smiles,

David

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Morning walk with Milo

 

The continental divide, just west of Sunshine

Milo, Malcom and I all went on our daily morning walk.  I was a little late getting ready and Milo let me know.  Every time I would try to close a door, he would stick his nose into it and push it back open.  He kept looking at me with that "lets go dad" look. He gets so excited when I put on my hat and grab his leash.

We raised the large garrison flag today.  Milo and I usually fly it on weekends and holidays.  Milo sat at attention while I raised the flag.  I read the names of the veterans we honor everyday and than gave him a treat.  I really don't think Milo sits at attention for the flag.  I think it has more to do with the impending treat!

As we neared the fork in the road and began our return trip, we saw a white pickup truck approaching.  Milo knew it was our mayor, Chris.  His tail started wagging rather rapidly.  Chris always has a treat in his pocket.  As usual, Chris stopped for a brief conversation.  He noticed that some our neighbors had left for another vacation trip.  They drive to Denver International Airport and leave their car in the parking lot.  Chris admitted that he has only been to DIA once and that was just before it opened. Obviously Chris doesn't fly but he still has a keen interest in airplanes.  To celebrate the new airport, the City of Denver held an air show with all kinds of airplanes, vintage and new.  The US Air Force had brought in a stealth bomber.  Chris was describing one of the things he noticed on the fighter airplanes.  Some of the WWII planes had marks under the cockpit for the number of "kills" the pilot had achieved.  Some had small trains, some had the Japanese flag and some had swastikas for the German planes.  The new stealth bomber had four camels.  We had a good laugh then Chris drove on down the road.

For those interested in the Sunshine Garden Club, I have started a journal about landscaping.  I have 23 or 24 entries planned and have posted the 1st two.  My son, Michael, wanted me to teach him something about landscaping and gardening.  This will be my attempt to organize my thoughts.

The Flapjack fling was a huge success.  We raised enough money to pay for the tables and chairs and had plenty left over to add to the fire department treasury.  Thank you to all of the Sunshine residents who read my journal.  Pictures

Keep smiling and remember......... Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly (unless it Chris' dog).

David

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Family Tradition

 

Milo and I headed down the driveway shortly after 7 this morning.  The air was cool and crisp but at least it wasn't snowing.  As we neared the fork I noticed 2 hot air balloons in the sky below.  Yes, this is one of the places you can look down to see something flying in the air.  Milo has informed me that the bears are out and about.  He is running with his nose to the ground, stopping and sniffing more than usual.  Bob passed us in the school bus and the kids all waved. 

 On the return trip, just out in front of fire station #1, we met the mayor, Chris.  He was telling me a story that I would never repeat in a public forum when he abruptly stopped and announced that Lori was driving up behind me.  "Watch, she'll flip me off" said Chris.  I turned around just in time to see her lower her hand with a big smile on her face.  As she drove by, it looked like she was hiding a little chuckle.  "She does that to me every time she sees me on the road" Chris said.  "Her dad did that before he died, just a friendly salute between friends I guess.  Lori doesn't mean anything bad by the gesture.  She's just carrying on a family tradition".  With that we parted.

The annual Flap Jack Fling will be held this Sunday at Fire Station #2.  We'll start serving around 10.  The price went up a dollar this year.  Even with the price increase, it's a bargain.  That will give folks a chance to catch early church services and then join us.

Be safe and watch out for the bears.

David

 

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Lake Norman

 

4th hole, par 3 Lake Norman Country Club

Milo, Malcom and I took our daily morning walk on this cool, crisp spring day.  It snowed last evening.  I wasn't very happy about seeing the white stuff but I do live at 7,000 feet above sea level.  Janice and I had tickets to see Celtic Woman at Red Rocks Amphitheater last night.  It was raining when we left.  It was still raining when we arrived just in time for them to close the gates, keeping anyone for driving into the parking lot.  The show has been postponed until June 28th or a 2nd added show on June 29th.

Milo was a little miffed at me last week.  I left him again for a trip to North Carolina.  I was invited to spend my birthday with my best friend, Chris.  Our birthdays are close (His is today 5/24) and we try to celebrate them together.  We had a great time together.  I was lucky enough to meet a fellow j-lander.  Sharon, from Golf and Other Stuff, drove up from South Carolina and spend a day with Chris, his wife and myself.  We all loaded onto Chris's boat and spent the day on Lake Norman.  Sharon is a lot of fun to be around and kept us laughing. (even though she thinks I am 10-47).  The day ended  way to soon.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend.

David

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